Pitching pumpkins: Members of the First Congregational Church of Lehigh on Leeland Heights Blvd. and friends are shown here pitching pumpkins down the line while unloading a tractor trailer filled with pumpkins from New Mexico. The lawn of the church is covered with an array of orange. Pumpkins are for sale daily at the site. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Motorists traveling down Leeland Heights Blvd. can’t help but notice the big yard of pumpkins in front of the First Congregational Church. It’s the third annual Pumpkin Patch with proceeds going to the church for its mission programs and youth activities.

Pastor Deb Frysinger was on hand last week when a 52-foot trailer pulled up into the church parking lot filled with thousands of pumpkins. Next stop from Lehigh was to be Immokalee.

Again the church on Leeland heights Blvd. is offering pumpkins in all shapes and size and even colors this year. There are green and white pumpkins, in addition to the traditional orange ones. They come in all sizes and start at 25 and 50 cents and go up to $20 for the really big ones. Pumpkins are priced according to the size that is selected by the buyer.

Frysinger said discounts apply to teachers and classrooms who purchase mini pumpkins for displays.

Later in the afternoon on the day of the arrival of the pumpkins from New Mexico, more than 70 church members and friends had gathered to help unload the truck. They pitched pumpkins from one to another down a long line where the pumpkins were sat on large skids.

Frysinger said some of the youngest helping out to unload and place the pumpkins were as young as 10 and 11 while the oldest participant was Don Stickle, Who is 90 yeas old. “I helped a little,” he joked.

Among those there was Tim Hershey from The Thureos Group, an organization that helps others in Lehigh, who is a member of the Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church.

“I’m happy to join this large grown of volunteers. It’s all for a great cause and the church helps many in the community,” he said.

The First Congregational Church is one of the churches in Lehigh that operates a food pantry three days a week.

In addition to small and large pumpkins, there are all sizes and shapes of gourds for sale for upcoming holidays. Members of the church are on hand each day of the week to man the tent where visitors pay for their pumpkins.

Frysinger said the first Pumpkin Patch was at the Methodist Church on Homestead Rd. when she was there. When she became the pastor at the First Congregational Church, she brought the idea with her. And it has been a tremendous success ever since,” she said. “We’re expecting another load this week or next of pumpkins from New Mexico.”

The pumpkins go fast, Frysinger said, so she is urging Lehigh folks to buy their pumpkins as soon as possible for holiday decorations and for pie making. Thanksgiving is drawing near she said, so this is the place to buy your fresh pumpkins.

The church will have received more than 4,000 pumpkins with two loads arriving.

Other events at the church include a Harvest Festival and Hog Roast on Oct. 23 and a Harvest Dinner on Oct. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. Presale tickets re available for a complete turkey dinner for $8. The menu includes turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans with bacon, a salad and a slice of pie.

“Give our Pumpkin Patch a visit,” Frysinger said. “We have Indian corn, cookbooks and don’t forget our annual ‘Trunk or Treat’ on the night of Halloween, Oc. 31. For more details call 369-1615.

Pumpkin Patch hours are from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Pumpkin Patch is open all of October and ends on Halloween, Frysinger said.

Motorists traveling down Leeland Heights Blvd. can’t help but notice the big yard of pumpkins in front of the First Congregational Church. It’s the third annual Pumpkin Patch with proceeds going to the church for its mission programs and youth activities.



Pastor Deb Frysinger was on hand last week when a 52-foot trailer pulled up into the church parking lot filled with thousands of pumpkins. Next stop from Lehigh was to be Immokalee.



Again the church on Leeland heights Blvd. is offering pumpkins in all shapes and size and even colors this year.

Motorists traveling down Leeland Heights Blvd. can’t help but notice the big yard of pumpkins in front of the First Congregational Church. It’s the third annual Pumpkin Patch with proceeds going to the church for its mission programs and youth activities.



Pastor Deb Frysinger was on hand last week when a 52-foot trailer pulled up into the church parking lot filled with thousands of pumpkins. Next stop from Lehigh was to be Immokalee.



Again the church on Leeland heights Blvd. is offering pumpkins in all shapes and size and even colors this year.